Many of you probably already know this, but for the ones that don't I wanted to share some info on submitting to Arbordale (formerly Sylvan Dell).

When you submit to Donna or Katie, if you can lay the PB out in a usable 13 page spread, it will help because then they can see the layout of the PB. When I submitted The Sparrow and The Trees, I already had it laid out into these 13 spreads because that is the communication I had received from the years(yes ...years... 5 to be exact ) of submitting to them. And that is the layout they are keeping.

Arbordale does ALL full page spreads so each illustrations will need to be shown in one full spread. They only have room for 13 full page spreads due to the creative minds section at the back of the book, so keep this in mind as you write.

Also, if you can find a way that your PB ties into the CCS or NGSS that will be awesome! I found a site online that showed how 2nd grade teachers used the folklore of Why the Trees Lose Their Leaves as a supplemental lesson for their classrooms. I included a link to that info with my submission. Any info that you find can show just how your PB needs to be included in the amazing line up of Arbordale books!

I am crossing my fingers and hoping that my PB that they currently have on hold for the 2016 year will turn into my 2nd PB with them!

I hope some of this info is helpful to all of your fantastic PB writers out there and if I think of more info, I will update

Thanks so much for the info, I wonder if I should resend my picture book I sent to them. I did not break it into 13 spreads for them because that isn't standard across the industry. But I did do it for myself, so I have it.

Is sending it twice shooting myself in the foot, or being helpful? (Last time I submitted to them, I got to the --"let us hold onto this for a little longer" stage, but no sale).

You are so welcome Sue and Amy! I am sure hoping they offer for PB #2 it would be a dream come true!

Amy, if it were me ( and others can chime in and always go with your own instincts) I wouldn't resend. BUT I would have it one hand for when they ask for it. It isn't standard subbing process, so it is not a 'have to'. I only did mine that way, after I pitched an idea to Donna and she said during one of our many emails (like I said 5 years of contacting in the making and a couple of hold onto longer and MANY R's) that she liked my idea but would need to see it in a 13 page usable spread(her words). SO this board has been so awesome to me, I just wanted to share that inside tidbit Oh and of course, make sure it aligns with CCS or NGSS! Hope this helps!

I'm fairly new (completely new, really) to the submisson process, so this might be a silly question, but here goes! How, exactly, do you format a book, so it's in a 13-page spread? Do you put the text on 13 different pages? Do you just split up the story with new paragraphs? Or is it done another way? Any clarification would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I'm fairly new (completely new, really) to the submisson process, so this might be a silly question, but here goes! How, exactly, do you format a book, so it's in a 13-page spread? Do you put the text on 13 different pages? Do you just split up the story with new paragraphs? Or is it done another way? Any clarification would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Kelly and Welcome!

The way I page spread is just write the story as usual, then where you see the page breaks right above it, write PAGE SPREAD 1...PAGE SPREAD 2 and so on. My last few PB's I have actually did this AS I was writing them....but either way as you write or after whichever works for you Best of Luck!

You are so welcome Julie and Carrots! Best of luck subbing to them!And thank you Carrots!

So cool that they are in your neck of the woods! Yes! You need to make a visit and take lots of pictures to share Hubby and I are heading to Myrtle Beach in 3 weeks and we have been considering taking a drive up to Mount Pleasant. I don't think it is too far away. It would be amazing to visit them! If we make up our minds before we leave, I will email Katie so she knows I am coming. I would love to meet her and Donna!

A 13 page format is the story broke apart for page turns. 1 page spread for each illustration. Arbordale does full page spreads only so the text that is on each page spread should be able to be shown by the single illustration on that page. Hope that helps.

Just adding that I recently sold a book to Arbordale after submitting it a year ago. It was worth the wait because now this book will be out Fall 2015 and I already love working with them. They explained the 13-page spread process and gave me the chance to split it up, which I enjoyed. I can't wait to see the artist they select for CA$H KAT.

So if your picture book is in a 14 page spread, you should trim it to 13 pages? (That's doable, I just wasn't sure if that was what was meant.)

In either case, congratulations.^^

Up to you. Like Linda pointed out, they will work with you too. So if you send it not exactly in a 13page spread, and they like it, they will still publish it. With that said, if it is a simple revision, I would say go for it! Good luck!